Info on the Typhoid Fever Prognosis, Relapses, and Carriers

What Is the Prognosis?

When appropriate treatment is started early, the prognosis is good. With treatment, the mortality rate of typhoid fever should be under 1 percent and few complications should occur.

Typhoid Fever Treatment and Relapses

Even with appropriate treatment, however, about 20 percent of people have another episode (relapse) of typhoid fever, although the relapse is usually not as severe as the first infection. Certain risk factors can increase the risk for a relapse, including:

Age over 50

Female gender

The presence of gallstones.

Treatment for Carriers

About 3 to 5 percent of people may still carry the typhoid fever bacteria, even after receiving treatment for typhoid fever. These people are known as typhoid fever carriers. The most famous typhoid fever carrier was Mary Mallon, better known as Typhoid Mary.

In carriers, it is possible for the illness to return or to be passed on to other people. In fact, if you work at a job where you handle food or care for small children, you may be barred legally from returning to work until a doctor has determined that you no longer carry any typhoid bacteria.

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